tax file disappeared

[tfox37380]

I prepared and filed my 2020 Federal return using a desktop version of TT. I have the program and a pdf of the return but no tax file. I searched my computer for the tax file but no results. How can I find the tax file? Is there a way to use the pdf to "rebuild" the tax file? Only have this problem with the 2020 file; over 5 years of other tax files.

[VolvoGirl]

If you don't have the main .tax file you might have one that starts with a Tilde sign ~ like "~your name.tax2020". That file is if your computer crashes or your real file gets lost or deleted or corrupt so you can restore it.

Find your Tax file in Windows
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-data-file/help/find-your-tax-data-file-tax-file-in-windows/00/...

Here's an idea. Do you still have 2020 installed? Try opening 2020 program and see if you can get your 2020 return to show up in it. Go to FILE - OPEN. And see if that is the right one.

In the 2020 program do a File-Save AS and give it a easy name you can find or search for. And note where it saves it or select where to save it so you can find it again. The file will end in .tax2020. Then close the 2020 program. Then start a new 2021 return and transfer from the 2020 file.

Are you on Windows 10? That can move files to different spots like to One Drive. Or to Drop Box. Could it be under a different user on your computer?

[SteamTrain]

If using a Windows computer...make sure you didn't store it in the "OneDrive" cloud storage that Windows has (or other cloud storage you might have signed up for)